Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad <<<<<<<<<(even though I get hate mail and have lost some real world friends).>>>>>>>>>>>>>.................................................................................................................. I would much rather have a friend that expresses his opinion and actually has an opinion than one who just mirrors mine. While I might not agree with some of your stances, I know where you stand and hearing other opinions helps make me more firm in my own beliefs.........................................................................................................................................>>>>>>>>>>It is a shame that you've lost friends over your feelings, but I tend to think they weren't true friends to begin with because a difference in opinion over the way Disney runs its business surely is a very lame reason to end a friendship<<<<<<<<<<<<<<...........................................................................................................I agree with Spirit here.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad <<Boycotts, be they personal or mass, don't work against TWDC. You only wind up hurting yourself>> You mean with all the money you save by not going?>>>>>>>....................................................................................................................................... No, he means by denying yourself a simple pleasure for no reason because Disney won't notice. So the only person being hurt by the action is yourself. I'm sure not going would hurt my family alot more than the Disney corporation.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>So the only person being hurt by the action is yourself. I'm sure not going would hurt my family alot more than the Disney corporation.<<< I don't. Since our last trip to WDW, we have enjoyed 4 trips to DLP and 1 to DL. We are going back to DLP in May. We have also been to Mallorca, traveled around France and Belgium, and we are off to Estepona, Spain in Feb. Yep - my kids have really been hurting in those 2 years - lol. Indeed the friendship thing has hurt, especially as they are people from this board, but c'est la vie.
Originally Posted By SuperDry davewasbaloo, you wrote: <<< Personally I am boycotting WDW at the mo, and going to the other resorts. I also write about it at every possibility with explanations and recommendations on several sites (even though I get hate mail and have lost some real world friends). ... Indeed the friendship thing has hurt, especially as they are people from this board, but c'est la vie. >>> Are you really saying that you've lost real-world friends from LP because you no longer go to WDW and write about it? If that's true, that is a shame indeed.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo indeed. I agree my writing style can be blunt and to the point, and this is what has happened. It has been a difficult year all around, and I could have written more diplomatically, granted. But the key thing was to get my opinions out there.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<Boycotts, be they personal or mass, don't work against TWDC. You only wind up hurting yourself ... I still love WDW ... just not like I once did. And I guess the fact I am spending far less money there kinda shows that.>> Correct. I don't do Disney as often as I used to, not because I'm "boycotting" the company for keeping dumb-as-doorknobs management in P&R. I'm not visiting Disney parks because I'd rather spend my money elsewhere. I've done Disney enough in the past to tide me over with wonderful memories. The deplorable lack of "newness" devalues my vacation dollar at Disney. I'd rather spend it on destinations I've never seen or visited only once, instead of experiencing the same rides and entertainment over and over and over. For folks who bought into DVC and/or enjoy going to the parks frequently, good for them. I'm just tired of seeing the same stuff, year after year. The freshness factor is gone. And it makes no sense to purchase day-old bread at the same price you'd pay for hot out of the oven baked goodness. At least, that's how I feel. YMMV.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< indeed. I agree my writing style can be blunt and to the point, and this is what has happened. >>> Wow. That's really incredible. I have maybe a half-dozen real-world friends that I've met through LP and I can't imagine any of them suddenly not getting along with me because of a difference of Disney opinion we might have online. Based on your experience, you must really be wondering about people! Or, maybe I've just been lucky with those I've met. <<< It has been a difficult year all around, and I could have written more diplomatically, granted. But the key thing was to get my opinions out there. >>> I thought that's what a message board was all about! Sorry to hear about your difficult year. Thankfully, it's almost over - may 2009 be better for you. P.S. - I *almost* ended up meeting you in SF earlier this year at that mini-meet of yours. I was in town, but ended up oversleeping and then getting caught up with work.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Boycotts, be they personal or mass, don't work against TWDC. >>> Didn't the Southern Baptists stage a boycott against Disney that lasted some 10 years to try to get them to drop domestic partner benefits for CMs? They finally gave up. If the Southern Baptists can't change Disney behavior with a 10-year boycott, it's unlikely that anything organized by a fan message board is going to have any effect. As far as personal "boycotts," most of what I see described here is more toward people just realizing that there are better places for them to spend their money and time, rather than a true boycott where you're doing it on principle.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Thanks Superdry, indeed it does make one wonder. But I have some awesome real world friends on here too. It is a shame we couldn't hook up in the Bay Area, maybe next time. My personal boycott of WDW is a way of taking a stand and being able to talk about it. I do wonder if maybe I am being a little hard. But the fact I can still not get bored of DL or DLP, and yet I do of WDW shocks me. WDW is bigger, and some people think better. It shouldn't happen. These cheapo give aways of days is somewhat tempting, but I would rather do some European jaunts and save up for TDL.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<No, he means by denying yourself a simple pleasure for no reason because Disney won't notice.>> Pfft! Like there aren't other things to do on a vacation.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<If the Southern Baptists can't change Disney behavior with a 10-year boycott, it's unlikely that anything organized by a fan message board is going to have any effect.>> I would say that perhaps one of the reasons the SBC boycott failed was because Disney did introduce new attractions and if memory serves me correctly, a whole new WDW park, durung the boycott.
Originally Posted By dshyates I wouldn't consider what Dave is doing to be a boycott as much as just smart consumerism. I agree that DLR does Deluxe better than WDW. The Grand Californian is great. I actually thought the The Disneyland Hotel had better service than The Poly. I find it odd that WDW did deluxe better when they really had no local compitition in that market. Now that there is a Ritz just up the road Disney cuts back on the lux services and charges more than the compitition. Amazing.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Nope I ain't buying the Elvis bit, not at all. Boycotting, seeing the rest of the world...everybody's got to do what's best for them (or their family if they have one.)
Originally Posted By Bob Paris " I agree my writing style can be blunt and to the point" Actually, as I have said before Dave, I feel you are one of the nicest and most civil posters here on this forum. Anybody who chooses to not be YOUR friend over well reasoned and informed opinions regarding WDW has got seriously look at THEMSELVES.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Now that there is a Ritz just up the road Disney cuts back on the lux services and charges more than the compitition. Amazing.< wait until the four seasons opens
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Thanks Bob, that's much appreciated. Oh, I looked up last night, an all day ticket to the Al Hambra palace in Grenada is $18 US per adult, kids under 8 are free! Cool
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Nope I ain't buying the Elvis bit, not at all. << Send her one of your scarves E..... I mean Spirit.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I have said I would never boycott Disney ... it's dumb, would make no difference to the bottom line and would likely even make some Disney execs (who shockingly have 'issues' with me) happy. Nah-uh. Not smart. WDW would have to fall a whole lot for me to stop visiting. As to the friend deal, I do think I can appreciate what Dave is saying to a certain extent ... someone who was a good friend with me is no longer and while it saddens me a bit, I also sit back and think it likely had more to do with our divergent world views than World views. People are strange, Disney fans are stranger.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >> Nope I ain't buying the Elvis bit, not at all. << <<Send her one of your scarves E..... I mean Spirit.>> Only if she cooks me prime rib and doesn't burn the rolls ... oh and some fried bologna sandwiches too! BTW, they are auctioning off one of my old Cadilacs this weekend in Boca Raton and I was wondering, dear minion, if you could be a good manservant and go fetch it back for THE KING? (yeah, I'll toss in a $100 cash so you can drive it through a drive thru or two on the ride back to Graceland!)
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 <<some fried bologna sandwiches >> That sounds nasty. Although I'm not against putting bologna on a grilled cheese and tomato, after grilling it. Hot bologna is almost as nauseating as hot tunafish. And I'm a tuna lover, just not hot.
